Reserch Question

Why are the "Top 5 African Endangered Cats" becoming extinct?
How are the "Top 5 African Endangered Cats" affecting the way farmers work?

Leopards

Habitat:bush and riverine forest
Diet: strong-scented carrion, fish, reptiles and birds, mammals such as rodents, hares, hyraxes, warthogs, antelopes, monkeys and baboons.
Lifespan: 21 years in captivity
Size:about 28 inches at the shoulder
Weight: up to 140 pounds
Behavior:When a leopard stalks prey, it keeps a low profile and slinks through the grass or bush until it is close enough to launch an attack. When not hunting, it can move through herds of antelopes without unduly disturbing them by flipping its tail over its back to reveal the white underside, a sign that it is not seeking prey. They have a good sense of smell and mark their ranges with urine; they also leave claw marks on trees to warn other leopards to stay away.
Scientific Name: Panthera pardus

http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engleopard.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=2&bestemming_id=1

Lion

Habitat: Lions are found in savannas, grasslands, dense bush and woodlands.
Behavior: Females do 85 to 90 percent of the pride's hunting, while the males patrol the territory and protect the pride, for which they take the "lion's share" of the females' prey.
Diet: Wildebeests, Zebras, Buffaloes, Young Elephants, Rhinos, Hippos,Giraffes,Mice, Lizards, Tortoises, Warthogs, Antelopes and even Crocodiles also form part of a Lion's diet.
Scientific Name: Panthera leo
Size: 48 inches high

http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/englion.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=1&bestemming_id=1

cheetah

Habitat: Cheetahs are found in open and partially open savannas. or open plains
Behavior:The cheetah is basically a solitary animal. At times, a male will accompany a female for a short while after mating, but most often the female is alone or with her cubs. Cheetah mothers spend a long time teaching their young how to hunt. Small live antelopes are brought back to the cubs so they can learn to chase and catch them.
Cheetahs do not roar like lions, but they purr, hiss, whine and growl. They also make a variety of contact calls; the most common is a birdlike chirping sound.
Diet: small Antelopes such as thomson, and impalas, can catch wildebeests and zebras if hunting together. they eat quickly because of scavengers such as lions, Leopards, Hyenas, Vultures ,and Jackels.
Scientific name:Acinonyx jubatus
Size:30 inches at the shoulder
Lifespan: Cheetahs life span is 10-20 years

Serval

Habitat:Savanna (individuals are mostly found in mountainous areas.Servals can be found in dry, open grasslands, wooded savannas, grassy uplands, and moist areas around rainforests. They do not occur in rainforests. Servals are almost always found near water.
Behavior:The serval is mainly nocturnal, and in the daytime it can be difficult to see in tall grasses. When hunting, the serval listens for movement, head raised above the grass. It is even able to locate prey moving underground. Once a sound is located, it stealthily approaches, then leaps and pounces. It often plays with its catch before eating it.
Diet: specialized for catching Rodents,Birds,Hares,Hyraxes,Reptiles,Insects,Fish,and Frogs. can take down larger animals such as Deer, Gazelle, and Springbok.
not much is known about mating of Servals, an average of three Servals are born.
they mark there territory by urine spraying and rubbing siliva on trees and rocks.
Size:22 inches at the shoulder.
scientific Name: Felis serval
life span:Up to 20 years


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Leptailurus_serval.html

Top Five African Endangered Cats

moving on to African Cats
Caracal known as the "Desert Lynx"
Serval resembles as smaller version of the Cheetah
Cheetah
Leopard
Lion

Caracal

Habitat: found mainly in dry Savannah and scrub but avoids sandy deserts.
It has become scarce in North Africa, South Africa, and parts of Asia.
Behavior: The caracal is largely nocturnal but is sometimes seen by day, particularly in cooler portions of its range. It jumps and climbs well, and is a skillful, agile hunter. Mainly terrestrial and usually solitary, it stalks prey, then captures it after a quick dash or leap. The caracal is renowned for catching low-flying birds.

Diet: The Caracal diet includes birds, rodents, and other small mammals.
night time hunter.

Scientific Name: caracal caracal

Size: Female: 60cm - 92cm (2'-2" - 3'- 4") Head to Body Length with Tail an additional 1/3 of length

lifespan: in the wild, caracals live for about 12 years. In captivity, they may live up to 17 years.